We are committed to making our website accessible. If you ask for directions you will be lucky if you get a derisory grunt, instead of an ear-bashing! You can easily find the location on Google Maps, so it's easier to find now. Really with the demise of nudity, there is little to keep you from bringing kids. But the point is that nothing about the trail seems like you should walk it; its fairly well hidden and the trail is only visable when you look down the hill; Not from the road. The ocean outside the cove is almost always a deep, almost surreal Kool-Aid blue, and rages relentlessly against the dramatic and rugged coastline. Below, the rugged coastline and sapphire waves of this crescent-shaped beach attract adventurous tourists, eccentric locals, and the occasional nudist. Our Hawaiian Food Guide to Hawaiis Must Try Foods, Best Beaches in Maui, Hawaii Our Ultimate Maui Beach Guide, How To Visit Maui on a Budget Saving money on your Maui, Hawaii Vacation. At the Split above you can stay on the trail or drop down to follow the beach. This secluded cove has some of the most dramatic color contrasts you can find. It may be just a stone's throw from Hana, but this little hidden gem remains one of the best beaches in Maui. When the rock cooled it was not the typical black Rock but formed of bright red Lava rock caused by the different composition of the Lava as the eruption was in its late stages. We loved this beach--amazing setting and very secluded. In fact, once a guy told me that he believes the Mothership resides just below the sands of this beach, waiting for the preordained moment to lift up above the surface and take off. She was taken to a hospital where she remained in critical condition at last check Monday. The beach seemed really touristy now; and i was guided by following the other groups of people who were exploring it. The Beach used to be very secluded and people with a clothes aversion swarmed to the beach to take in nature in a state of nature. (again, this isnt the old trail; after erosion all that is left is a 3 inch dirt trail on a hill with a 50+ degree angle. Had place nearly to ourselves. Shares. Follow your intuition the rest of the way, down and along the shore into the bay where the beach is. Just a couple miles past Hana, turn onto Haneoo Road. The worst part about getting here is the long waste of time on the road to Hana. For those explorers who understand the safety risk but are comfortable accepting it, this comprehensive guide to Red Sand Beach will show and explain everything you need to know for a safe and enjoyable visit. What is the Weather Like in Chicago, Illinois? From the relative peaceful. We recommend staying in this area when the water is calm. We have beachside condos in Red Sand Beach, self-catering apartments near Red Sand Beach, {Red Sand Beach family resorts, and you can even find pet-friendly {Red Sand Beach pads for furry family members too. Kaihalulu Beach in Hana, HI, is one of only a few red sand beaches in the world. room is a guest favorite and is especially popular with couples. A bit more dangerous in the rain. By: Admin (David Miller) The Red Sand Beach (a.k.a Kaihalulu) Trail in Hana, Maui, Hawaii, is a moderate 0.6 mile out-and-back hike over to the hidden cove of turquoise waters and red sand beach, Kaihalulu. We did take the trail down to the beach and then climbed the rocks to get to the final trail that leads up and then down to the beach & that didnt look too scary; however, it was late and the tide was washing up on the beach so we just took pictures. and just before that dead end you reached above, youll see a grassy area with a yellow gate on the left (not sure if they ever shut the gate, it was open when I went). Visiting Chicago On A Budget Saving Money On Your Chicago Vacation! Disclosure: In order to keep providing you with free content, this post likely contains affiliate links. As such Nudity has dropped hugely. No, Red Sand Beach is NOT on private property. However, if the Bay lot is full or the 1\4 mile walk is too much, Park on Uakea Rd and remember to face the direction of traffic. This is a sacred site to the Hawaiian people. But many malahini (visitors) who visit these places leave them altered. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Your email address will not be published. Trail is slick sand/gravel. Ok, its not red sand like Kaihalulu Beach Red sand, and the area is far less lost world like, but its a nice beach. It is well worth it. Firefighters and medics provided emergency medical treatment and packaged the patient so she could be airlifted out of the area, Giesea said. Dont expect a nude beach haven in the time I was there, one guy showed up and snorkeled in the buff. I felt like the sand was a little sharp on my feet. Over the years as the sea pummeled the cliffs, this rock was worn away and broken down into sand particles. Here Lava Bubbled up from the earth forming new land. BE CAREFUL!!!! The best time to visit Red Sand Beach is in the morning. do you think i can make it? They clearly have missed the whole point of the highway, but while on the face of it Hana is pretty dull, there are a few diamonds to be found in the town, not least the Stunning Red Sand Beach. Every year tourists are injured or killed attempting to get there, putting our first responders at risk. The Eternal Question, and a tough one to answer and a question that doesnt have one answer as conditions and tides have an effect. We have been to Hawaii over 8 times and have made this beach every time. Tucked behind a forest of ironwood trees and flanked by steep red cliffs, Koki Beach is one of Maui's most unique hidden beaches. And before we go any further, Ill make it clear that I wore a swimsuit when I visited. Luckily grabbed a branch on my way down, slowing my fall, and escaped with only a broken foot and some cuts and bruises. If possible ask a local if the ocean conditions are safe for a swim. No one made a big deal of it either way. Watch on your right hand side for a trail. Got to the beach by 7:30am and only two other locals were there. If you do find this hidden trail and decide to attempt it please go with humbleness for the significance of this place to the Hawaiian community and leave it as you find it or better, take nothing but pictures and memories. This is the problem with people that ruins it for others. We even offer a delicious, homemade breakfast each morning of your stay. However, I have lots of practice in rough offroad trail running and a great sense of balance. There are other red sand beaches on Maui that don't cross private property. But Its a great way for me to remember my Hana trip without hurting the environment much; and TSA didnt care about my 1 cup of sand.). Half-Day Hana With Helicopter Tour. The original trail washed out years ago, leaving only a tentative path that is covered in volcanic scree and dangerously close to the cliff. The Bay is split into two parts the inner Baby pond and the outer Ocean. The two are separated by an iron-looking Lava wall that is seriously imposing. Make sure youre parked 100% legally! Take a drive out to Hana and return by helicopter or fly to Hana and return in a luxury tour van. The App mentioned the trail to get there was tricky and not recommended for children and elderly. Kaihalulu Bay, Maui, Hawaii. Red Sand Beach Parking: Park at the Hana Ball Park or on the street nearby. (Isa. We've visited this hidden gem of a beach on both of our visits to Maui, and you should, too. |. According to legend, Pele, the volcano goddess, met her mortal end here. dont take it). Harder to find than Wally, but much more satisfying. From a distance it is identical but up close it is much coarser, almost like gravel and is deep. I did not define this myself, my cultural source when I originally wrote this article had explained the definition as I defined it, and I just double checked looking in the dictionary both lulu and halulu. 16.2K shares. this is not a safe place to go, people die there, eroding trail, no facilities, sand not red, it is the color of the mountain cinder, no emergency phone nearby. The current trail leads down to a regular beach, and at first i thought i had found the beach. If I hadn't been directed by a local, I don't think I would have found the trailhead on my own as it was hidden behind a pile of yard waste. How many islands should you visit during your Hawaii vacation? If you do want to check this one off and think you can handle the trail then read on and we show you exactly where to find the beach and how to get there. You are a greedy idiot, all about yourself. I should note that I visited around midday. As we explain the route below try to understand the risk, and the difficulty, and if the trail is right for you, dont be fooled by the shortness of the trial, it is the terrain and exposure that carry the risk. The Pipiwai Trail- with its stunning waterfalls, huge bamboo forest, idyllic stream, and more beauty than you can imagine- is simply one of the best hikes on Maui. Most people at this beach were wearing swimsuits, however there were some people who werent. What to Eat at Universal Studios, Hollywood, Chicago, Illinois Visitors Guide Basics. In dry weather, not a bad hike. In addition, the cove itself can create an extremely strong undertow invisible from the surface. The problem is people read about the beach in guidebooks and expect a smooth and simple path to the beach and get in trouble as this is anything but. Park at the corner of Uakea Road and Hauoli Road, which you can find on Google Maps easily. But the current trail from the community center doesnt lead to the beach; the land slide killed that trail (the trail still exists, but its toeing a VERY fine and SLIPPERY line and i only saw a local attempt it). About four hours earlier in the day, emergency responders were dispatched to Poolenalena Beach Park in Makena. The trail now becomes pretty well-defined and worn. We are particularly interested in if you received any hostility from locals. The most recent fall wasnt less than two weeks ago, requiring a helicopter to bring the injured party to the hospital. Dont worry about them, just go into that area. It helped me locate it with no troubles. Why cant the fully clad go elsewhere. Remember to park in legal spots only, unless you dont mind the ticket, which an officer says starts at $35. We intend to return here again and again on future Maui visits. Both birds are impressive to watch. The commentators here who minimize the risk are not doing anyone any favors. I had the beach to myself for about 5 minutes! But the good news here is there is a huge amount to see along the highway and much of it is in the vicinity of Hana. Not hard to find as some may suggest but if not sure just wait, someone will go into or emerge from the jungle . And as ever if you have any questions at all just fire away. Along with the beach not being the most uncomfortable it just isnt a great lounging beach. If you are driving the road to Hana for just the day, your time is very limited. Below, the rugged coastline and sapphire waves of this crescent-shaped beach attract adventurous tourists, eccentric locals, and the occasional nudist. A hike to the red sand beach near Hana. The day, I hiked here, the trail was dry. Look in the trees along the right side of the community centre for a well defined trail. People say that even sand is inadvisable to take; but since the red sand is replenishing from the overhanging red rocks; taking sand here has less of an impact than non replenishing sand colors; like black and green. Tucked away on Kaihalulu Bay, the Red Sand Beach is a gorgeous pocket beach, quite hidden away from the eyes of the regular tourists. Ratio was 50/50 for nudity to clothed. As it erodes, this iron seeps onto the beach to give it a magnificent, deep red hue. Itll likely take longer if the Hana Highway is crowded with cars. In a nutshell: A dramatic and beautiful hidden cove unlike any other. Maui beaches all seem to be amazing, but this red beach is a perfect piece of tucked away beachfront paradise. Youll be ahead of the crowds coming from major resorts and can experience an unforgettable adventure on your way to Red Sand Beach. Just pay attention to your feet and those around you, hang on and take it as slow as you need. Red Sand Beach is a dramatic and beautiful hidden cove unlike any other. until it dead ends at what I think is a parking lot for the hotel mentioned above its just past the baseball diamond (on your right) and Hana School (on your left). Just went this past week. Required fields are marked *. Being on the edge of the cliff. We cover Hawaii travel tips, news, and reviews for planning your perfect Hawaiian vacation. We did the Road to Hana drive last month using an App that mentioned the Red Sand beach as one of the stops. The Red Sand Beach Divides opinions so we would love to hear your thoughts on whatever side of the fence you sit. Wear good footwear for hiking like a hiking sandal, hiking shoe or trail running sneaker. While the Step cliffs do keep the winds down they also provide shade and shelter and large parts of the beach are in shade most of the day. It is narrow and rapidly eroding, with steep drop-offs. BOOK NOW. 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